ICE Steps In as TSA Agents Quit, Airport Security at Risk

0:00It's March 29, I'm Corey, with the story, and this is US News Today, your AI-powered national briefing. TSA agents are dropping out left and right since the Department of Homeland Security lost funding on February 14 with 480. Officers quitting so far. That's on top of over 1,100 who bailed during last year's big shutdown. Now, ICE agents are stepping up big time in airports to keep security tight, especially with the Iran tensions heating things up. Officers like Tom Homan say paychecks for those TSA folks should hit by Monday or Tuesday after chats with the new DHS head, Mark Wayne Mullen. Homan's teaming with acting TSA boss Ha and Gwen McNeil and ICE's Todd Lions to make sure runways stay smooth. Families and travelers are stressing over these lines and gaps, but Homan told CBS and CNN that ICE is locked in until TSA hits 100%. Homan opts. If fewer TSA agents return, more ICE stays put. The president's orders to lock down those airports.

1:02Congress is on a two-week recess, while Coast Guard and Secret Service crews go unpaid too. And Homan's calling them out hard. Democrats want big ICE e-s overhalls like limits on home entries before approving funds, blaming it on past open-border mess and recent enforcement, clashes. Americans pushing back, saying change the laws if they hate them, not starve agencies. Tops are rolling daily, but until Congress steps up, ICE holds the line at every gate.